Story perspectives

Senate Approves $75B Immigration Funding, 50-48 Vote

4/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Senate Republicans approved a budget resolution on April 23, 2026, by a 50-48 vote, launching a reconciliation of immigration enforcement.
The resolution funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol at $70-$80 billion through 2029, pending House approval.
Senators Jeff Merkley and Patty Murray called the plan a blank-check lacking reforms such as officer identification.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will wait for Senate approval before considering DHS funding.

History

Historical Context

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on October 3, abolished national origin quotas that had favored Northern and Western Europeans since the 1920s. This landmark legislation increased immigration from Asia and Latin America, allowing over 300,000 immigrants annually, and established family reunification as a key immigration principle, reshaping the U.S. demographic landscape.

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Story summary

Senate Republicans approved a budget resolution on April 23, 2026, by a 50-48 vote, launching a reconciliation of immigration enforcement.
The resolution funds Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol at $70-$80 billion through 2029, pending House approval.
Senators Jeff Merkley and Patty Murray called the plan a blank-check lacking reforms such as officer identification.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the House will wait for Senate approval before considering DHS funding.

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